Chris Hughton named permanent boss

Oct 28 2009 by Steve Brown, The Journal

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Newcastle were informed by the FA yesterday that Zurab

Khizanishvili’s appeal for his red card against Doncaster had been rejected.

The Georgian international was sent off during United’s 2-1 home win over Doncaster when, intervening in a clash between team-mate Tamas Kadar and Rovers striker Billy Sharp, he grabbed his opponent by the neck.

After consultation with a linesman, referee Darren Deadman dismissed Khizanishvili with a straight red for violent conduct, which automatically carries an instant three-match ban.

Hughton announced himself “astounded” by the decision, with United believing Sharp, who received a booking, to be the instigator.

And at the risk of the suspension being extended on the grounds of ‘frivolity’, as was the case last season with Middlesbrough’s Jeremie Aliadiere, United opted to appeal to the FA, not against the “validity” of the decision to award a red card, but simply to dispute the charge of violent conduct.

“Newcastle United are of the opinion that the offence does not warrant the standard three-game suspension,” read a club statement, with the clear hope being to reduce the 28-year-old’s ban from three matches to one.

Khizanishvili was always destined to miss Monday’s game at Sheffield United – but he will now miss the ensuing encounters against Peterborough and Preston North End as well.

That outcome was always likely and with the on-loan Blackburn Rovers defender sidelined until late November, United are in even greater need of a swift return from injury of their other defenders.

Steven Taylor has been out with a hamstring strain since the goalless draw with Bristol City at the start of the month, Fabricio Coloccini with a groin complaint since the 4-0 win at Ipswich Town in late September, while the on-loan Danny Simpson missed Saturday’s game with an ankle knock.

Coloccini was only a late withdrawal from featuring against Doncaster, and Hughton remains hopeful that all three players could yet figure at Bramall Lane.

Should they fail to do so, United will be forced to pitch 19-year-olds Kadar and Ben Tozer into a vastly inexperienced central defensive partnership, with the pair starting only their second and first league games respectively.

Meanwhile, reports have resurfaced claiming Roma are interested in United winger Jonas Gutierrez with, less plausibly, Barcelona also mentioned in dispatches. The Argentinian international has been linked with the Serie A giants in the past.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri is understood to be a long-standing admirer, having followed Gutierrez since his three-year spell with Real Mallorca.

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